Ram assemblage



Nov. 4, 1947. H. P. BRUMDr-:R ETAL RAM AssEMBLAGE Filed Jan. 24, 1944 Patented Nov. 4f, 1947 RAM ASSEMBLAGE Herbert P. Brumder, Che Mandl, Milwaukee, Wis

nequa, and Siegmund assignors to Blackhawk Mfg. dCo., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application llanuary 24, 1944, Serial No. 519,568

2 Claims.

Our invention relates in general to improvements in the art of hydraulic force application, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of fluid pressure actuated jacks or ram assemblages.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved fluid pressure actuated ram assemblage of the push-pull type, which is simple in construction and highly effective in use.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a portable and universally positionable ram structure comprising a tubular cylinder and an annular plunger movable within the cylinder by liquid under pressure applied to the same end face of the plunger for both pushing and pulling purposes, and this prior type of push-pull ram is quite satisfactory for most uses. This type of portable push-pull ram is ordinarily supplied with liquid under pressure through a flexible hose in order to permit disposition of the device in any desired position, and while the plunger is positively displaced in one direction by fluid under pressure, gravity and atmospheric pressure are usually depended upon to move the plunger in the opposite direction sov as to expel the liquid from the cylinder. Such gravity and atmospheric pressurek return of the plunger is often sluggish and slow, and frequently causes loss of valuable time in utilizing the ram for diverse purposes; but it has heretofore been impossible to obviate the difficulty Without undesirably complicating thev structure and unnecessarily increasing the size thereof.

The present invention therefore contemplates the provision of a simple and compact hydraulically actuated push-pull ram of the above described type, wherein the plunger is quickly and positively retracted Whenever the uid pressure is released from Within the cylinder.

Another specific object of our invention is to provide simplified and eifectve means for rapidly and automatically retracting the plunger of an annular push-pull ram assemblage, Without interfering with its normal use for both pushing and pulling purposes.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly compact push-pull ram structure having normally concealed and protected internal mechanism for positively expelling the actuatingV fluid from the ram cylinder Whenever the pressure is released.

Still another specific object of the invention is toY provide an improved self-retracting pushpullram. which canv be manufactured at moderate cost, and all parts of which are conveniently removable or accessible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description; and some of the novel features of push-pull ram construction, Which are shown but not specifically claimed herein, constitute no part of our joint invention.

A clear conception of the features forming the subject of this invention, and of the mode of manufacturing and of operating several types of push-pull portable rams built in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application and wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section through one specific type of portable push-pull ram having internal plunger retracting means embodied therein Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken through the ram assemblage of Fig. l, along the line, 2 2;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section through another specific type of portable push-pull ram having modified plunger retracting means conned therein.;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central section through still another specific type of portable push-pull ram having further modified plunger retracting means disposed centrally therein; andv Fig. 5k is a fragmentary central. section through an adaptor for converting the rams of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive from pushing to pulling use, and vice versa.

While the invention has been shown and de scribed herein as being advantageously applicable to portable and universally movable hydraulic rams adapted for various uses, it is not our desire or intent to unneccessari'ly restrict the utility of the improved features b-yvirtue of these specic embodiments. v

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,- the im.- proved push-pull ram assemblage shown therein, comprises in` general a relatively short tubular cylinder having an annular inner wall 'l Iwhich coacts with a concentric outer Wall 8 to provide an annular displacement chamber 9 having one end sealed and the opposite end open; an annular pis-l ton or plunger IU- slid'able along the cylinder walls 1, 8 within the displacement, chamber 9 and hav-A ing an end projecting outwardly through and beyond the open chamber end and formed for interchangeable cooperation with different kinds of Work performing appliances; and an elongated helical tension spring I I disposed' Within the inner cylinder wall 8' and connecting the sealed cylinder end with the outwardly projecting end of the reciprocable plunger I0.

The tubular inner wall 1 of the cylinder is provided near one end with an integral outer flange I2 which coacts with an integral inner ilange I3 of outer tubular cylinder wall 8 and is rigidly and permanently attached thereto by an annular weld I4 or the like, so as to positively seal the adjacent end of the displacement chamber 9. The outer cylinder wall 8 is also provided with a liquid inlet and outlet port I5 for conducting the liquid to and from the displacement chamber 9 in back of the plunger Ill, and the port i5 communicates with a threaded socket I6 to which a. flexible liquid conducting hose may be applied. The end of the outer cylinder wall 8 remote from the flange I3 may be provided with external screw threads I1 for attachment to a support, and these screw threads I1 may be concealed and protected by a sleeve or collar I8 when not in use.

The pressure receiving end of the annular plunger lil is constantly exposed directly to the liquid coniined within the chamber 9, and is provided with internal and external cylindrical surfaces which snugly engage the external and internal surfaces of the walls 1, 8 respectively; and circular sectioned rubber packing rings I9 may be mounted in this end of the plunger III and caused t coact'with the adjacent cylinder Walls 1, In order to limit the outward travel of the plunger I0 the outer end thereof may be made of reduced diameter so as to provide an annular abutment 20, and this abutment 20 may be caused to coact with a stop ring 2| secured by screw threads Within the open end of the outer cylinder wall S. The reduced portion of the plunger IU should be loosely slidable within the stop ring 2| so as to prevent entrapment of liquid; and the plunger return spring II has the end coils thereof enlarged as shown in Fig. 1, for coaction with the end of the inner cylinder wall 1 and with an annular plate 22 coacting with the opposite end of the plunger I!! within a threaded end socket 23. The spring I I is constantly under suicient tension so that it will quickly retract the plunger l0 whenever liquid is released from the chamber 9, but should be of sufficient internal diameter and so formed that it will not interfere with the insertion of a pull rod centrally within the ram assemblage. The threaded end socket 23 of the plunger I0 is adapted for interchangeable receptionV of diierent types of work engaging appliances or extension tubes, and some of these may have a pull rod associated directly therewith as will be later explained.

Referring specifically to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the modified push-pull ram shown therein is quite similar to that of Figs. l and 2, but comprises a relatively long tubular cylinder forming an annular displacement chamber 9' within which a long annular plunger I0 is movable in one direction by liquid under pressure admitted through a port I and socket I6, and in the opposite direction by a l helical compression spring I I which may be conned within the chamber 9 either between the plunger I' and the inner cylinder wall 1 or between the plunger lil and the outer wall 8', and coacts with a plunger abutment and a stop collar or ring 2i detachably associated with the outer end of the cylinder. The compression spring II which is confined within the cylinder either within the plunger or externally thereof if a plunger such as shown in Fig. 1 is used, tends to constantly retract the plunger I0', and the modified cylinder of Fig. 3 is composed of the inner tubular Wall 1' having an integral outer end flange I2 coacting with and secured to an annular end abutment I3' on the corresponding end of the outer tubular cylinder wall 8' by a weld I4, or the like. The sealed end of the tubular ram cylinder may be provided with a threaded socket 24 for interchangeable reception of a supporting tube or the like, and the outwardly projecting end of the plunger I0 may be provided with screw threads 25 adapted for interchangeable cooperation with diierent types of work engaging appliances, or a push-pull adaptor such as shown in Fig. 5. The internal central bore of the inner cylinder wall 1 should preferably be free from obstruction, and this modified ram assemblage can be produced with relatively small external diameter and of relatively great length.

Referring especially to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the further modified push-pull ram shown therein is also similar to the rams of Figs. 1 and 3, and comprises a tubular cylinder having an inner wall 1 cooperating with an outer wall 8" to form an annular displacement chamber 9 within which an annular plunger I0 is movable in one direction by liquid under pressure admitted to the chamber S" through a port I5 and socket I6, and is retractable in the opposite direction by means of a helical tension spring Il" which is conned within the ram. The inner annular wall 1 is provided with an end flange I2' coacting with an abutment I3 on the outer annular wall 8, and these cylinder walls are rigidly united by a weld I4 or the like; and the plunger Iii" has its pressure receiving end sealed by means of an annular cup-packing 1S', and is provided with an annular abutment 20" which is coopera-ble with a stop collar or ring 2l secured to the outer end of the inner cylinder wall 1" in order to prevent the plunger I from leaving the annular chamber 9". The end coil at one end of the tension spring II" is enlarged for coaction with a flat annular plate 22" which coacts with the adjacent outer end of the plunger I0; and the opposite end coils of the spring II" are threaded into a nut 26 disposed within the cylinder end socket 24 and c0- acting with the flange I2 of the inner wall 1". The tension of the spring II" may be readily varied or adjusted by merely rotating the nut 2B; and while the spring II is disposed within the central bore of the inner tubular cylinder wall 1", this spring does not prevent disposition of a pull rod centrally within the ram assemblage.

The plungers of any of the three ram modifications shown in the drawing, may be provided either with a threaded internal end socket 23 as shown in Fig. 1, or with external'screw threads 25 at its outer end as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These threaded end formations may be utilized either for interchangeable attachment of eX- tension tubes of different lengths, or for similar attachment of accessories for performing difierent types of work. When the ram plunger is provided with a threaded socket 23 as in Fig. 1, a short nipple having external threads at its opposite ends, may be applied within the socket so as to provide external end threads 25 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and ii the ram is to be utilized for pushing purposes, either a cap 21 such as shown in Fig. 4, or a modified cap 21 such as shown in Fig. 5, may be applied to the end threads 25. 1f it is desired to employ the ram for pulling purposes, a rod 28 having screw threads 29, 30 at its opposite ends, may be used in conjunction with either cap 21, 21', and this pull rod 28 may be caused to extend freely and centrally through the ram assemblage Without interference by the plunger retracting springs. All of the ram assemblages shown in the drawing are therefore adapted for either pushing or pulling use, and while the plungers are movable in one direction by hydraulic pressure, they are quickly retractable by the internal and concealed springs when the liquid pressure is released.

Since the normal functioning of the three modified ram assemblages is the same, it will suflice to describe the normal operation of onlyA one of the structures, and such description will be directed to the embodiment of Fig. 3. The ram of Fig. 3 may be provided with a ram and cap assemblage such as shown in Fig. 5 in order to adapt it for push-pull operation, and when liquid under pressure is admitted to the displacement chamber 9 through the port l5, the plunger l0 will be forced outwardly within the cylinder and the spring fi I will be compressed. This outward motion of the plunger I0 may be utilized to either push the load by utilizing the outer face of the cap 2l as an abutment, or to pull the load by employing the rod 28 as a pull rod with the threads 29 thereof applied to the work. When the pressure within the displacement chamber 9 is released, the compressed spring Il acts quickly and positively to retract the plunger I0 and to return the same to inactive position; and the collar or ring 2| serves to prevent the plunger l0 from leaving the displacement chamber 9 while the packing rings I9 prevent excess leakage. By removing the ring 2l' with the aid of a spanner Wrench, the plunger I0 may be freely withdrawn from the cylinder, and all parts of the assemblage are therefore readily accessible. Itwill be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, that the improved rams may be used interchangeably to either push or to pull a load, and that the concealed springs will rapidly and effectively retract the plungers without interfering with the use of the central pull rod 28 eX- tending through the tubular ram structure.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be obvious that our present invention provides an improved push-pull ram assemblage which is simple, compact and durable in construction, and in which the single acting plunger is quickly and positively returned to inactive position whenever the actuating pressure is relieved. The plunger retracting means is coniined and concealed within the cylinder structure, but does not obstruct or interfere with the use of a pulling member associated with the movable plunger and extending through the central opening of the ram assemblage. the spring coils as in Fig. 4, the tension of the spring may be readily varied, and in all cases the spring is readily accessible for replacement. The improved ram assemblage may be manufactured at moderate cost, and can be used in cramped quarters and in any desired position with assurance that the plunger will be automaticallyv and promptly retracted when the actuating pressure is released.

It should be understood that it is not our desire to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various medincations within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A portable ram assemblage comprising, a tubular cylinder having inner and outer concen- By utilizing a nut cooperating with tric annular walls rigidly united to provide an annular elongated displacement chamber closed at one end and open at its opposite end, said chamber being bounded at its closed end by an integral flange formed on one of said walls and along its length by a cylindrical peripheral surface of the inner wall and by a cylindrical bore of the outer Wall, means for admitting pressure fluid to said chamber at the closed end of said cylinder, an annular elongated plunger movable along said chamber and having a bore coacting with said peripheral inner wall surface and also having a peripheral cylindrical surface snugly slidably engageable with said outer wall bore, an elongated helical spring located outside of said chamber within the inner cylinder wall and having opposite ends coacting with said closed cylinder end and with the outer end of said plunger to move the latter in a direction to expel uid from said chamber through said admission means and being entirely devoid of internal obstruction, means for varying the tension of said spring externally of the cylinder, and a pull rod attachable to the outer end of said plunger independently of said spring and extending axially through said spring.

2. A portable ram assemblage comprising, a tubular cylinder having inner and outer concentric annular walls rigidly united to provide an annu! lar elongated displacement chamber closed at one end and open at its opposite end, said chamber being bounded at its closed end by an integral iiange formed on said inner wall and along its length by a cylindrical peripheral surface of the inner wall and by a cylindrical bore of the outer wall, means for admitting pressure fluid to said chamber at the closed end of said cylinder, an annular elongated plunger movable along said chamber and having an outer threaded end and a bore coacting with said peripheral inner wall surface and also having a peripheral cylindrical surface snugly slidably engageable with said outer wall bore, an elongated helical tension spring located outside of said chamber within the inner cylinder Wall and having one end secured to said plunger end and its opposite end coacting with said closed cylinder end, and a pull rod attachable to said outer plunger end independently of said spring and extending freely and axially through the spring.

HERBERT P. BRUlVlDER. SIEGMUND MANDL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,356,899 AStutter Aug. 29, 1944 2,231,680 Pfauser Feb. 11,1941 2,087,403 Gonser et al July 20, 1937 978,026 Jaenichen Dec. 6, 1910 1,866,762 Field July 12, 1932 1,454,088 Thrift May 8, 1923 1,497,218 McBride June 10, 1924 2,085,111 Mcoonneil June '29, 1937 1,557,385 Tastenhoye Oct. 13, 1925 1,873,116 Dessaint Aug. 23, 1932 2,080,711 Haraldson May 18, 1937 1,841,337 Roessler Jan. 12, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 541,279 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1941 

